The Tragedy of Julius Caesarkealer.weebly.com/uploads/3/8/1/1/38110125/shakespearep...The Tragedy of Julius Caesar cont. When Caesar was given orders by Sulla (general and dictator

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

By William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

Background on William

Shakespeare Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in

Stratford-upon-Avon in England.

His parents were Mary Arden and John

Shakespeare, a respected glove-maker.

He attended the local grammar school

where he learned to read and write in

English and Latin.

Shakespeare background cont.

When he was 18, he married a woman by

the name of Anne Hathaway. She was 26 at

the time of their marriage.

The relationship was solely based on

convenience. It is unclear as to whether or

not Shakespeare actually loved her, but

when she became pregnant he felt that it

was his duty to marry her.


Shakespeare and Anne had three children together: Susanna and the twins Judith and Hamlet.

From 1585-1592, there are no official records of Shakespeare, thus the title “The Lost Years” is given to this period.

It is speculated that he worked numerous odd jobs to try and support his family.


Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway did not have a loving marriage. As soon as Shakespeare had saved enough money, he moved to London to become an actor and left Anne and the kids in Stratford-upon-Avon.

In 1594, Shakespeare became a charter member of a theatrical group known as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men which became the King’s Men in 1603. (The name changed because King James I was the patron for this group).

King James I


Shakespeare acted and wrote for this company until he retired in 1612.

By this time he had written thirty-seven plays-comedies, tragedies, histories, and romances.

Shakespeare is sometimes referred to as “The Bard.”

Not a single original manuscript has survived due partly to the fact that they were written strictly for performance.


There is much speculation as to whether or not

there was an actual “Shakespeare.”

Many historians claim that “Shakespeare” is

actually a collection of several poets and

playwrights works, while others claim that it was a

pseudonym for another writer.

The three men most associated with the

“Shakespeare Debate” are Edward De Vere,

Francis Bacon, and Christopher Marlow.


The reasoning behind the controversy seems to lie in the fact that many people find it difficult to accept that a man of poor education and upbringing could write such eloquent masterpieces and have such a strong command of the English language.

The important thing is not to focus on whether he was real or not, but instead we should focus on the great pieces of literature that we have attributed to him.


Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616, at the age of fifty-two.

At the time of his death he was considered one of the greatest playwrights and actors to have ever graced the stage.

He wrote 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and 2 long poems.

His works were not published during his lifetime, but they appeared four years after his death in the “First Folio.”

The Elizabethan Stage

Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603) was the ruling monarch in England during Shakespeare's day.

She was an avid fan and supporter of the arts.

At this time, London was the heart of England, reflecting all the vibrant qualities of the Elizabethan Age.

Queen Elizabeth

Elizabethan Age cont.

London became a leading center for culture and

commerce.

Its dramatist and poets were among the most

revered and admired men during this time period.

There was no such thing as a theatre during the

first part of the Elizabethan Age.

It seems that traveling acting companies would

come into England and set up their own stages.


These “stages” were actually more like

platforms, and they were often set up in the

courtyards of inns.

The audience would stand at the three sides

of the stage, or if they paid more money,

than they could sit in chairs on the balcony

of the inn.


In 1576, James Burbage decided to build the first permanent theatre just outside the city of London.

Burbage called his new playhouse “The Theatre.”

In 1599, the owner of the land that The Theatre was built upon decided to raise the rent.


Because the theatre was behind on its payments,

the landlord threatened to take it over.

On the night of January 20, 1599, James

Burbage’s son Cuthbert and others in the company

stealthily took the theatre apart piece by piece and

relocated across the river.

They reconstructed a new theatre and named it

“The Globe.”

The Globe Theatre

The stage at The Globe

Side view of the stage

The Gallery during performance

The Gallery

The Groundling Area

The Globe Theatre

Shakespeare was part owner of the Globe Theatre.

This was the theatre where Shakespeare’s greatest works were performed.

Among these works included: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear.

There were no elaborate stages, but instead Shakespeare relied on the imaginations of his audience.

There were, however, numerous special effects that Shakespeare employed into his works.

The Globe Theatre cont.

All of the plays were performed during the

day.

The cost of admission was one penny.

All of the actors were young boys or men.

(Women were not allowed to act until 1660).

Actors on stage dressed like Elizabethans, but

their costumes were controversial just the

same.

Shakespearean Actors and

Accessories

http://www.costumes.org/history/renaissance/boehn/1580hofherr1.jpghttp://www.costumes.org/history/renaissance/boehn/16thcentwatch.jpg

Shakespearean Actors and

Accessories

http://www.costumes.org/history/greatwomen/10340_26.jpghttp://www.costumes.org/history/greatwomen/10340_32.jpg

The Globe Theatre cont.

England had “Clothing Acts” which forbade

certain classes of people from dressing like

a higher class.

So, for an actor-a person of the lower

classes- to dress like a nobleman or a king

was something of a scandal.

Parts of The Globe Theatre

The Pit- Sometimes referred to as “The Yard”

where the groundlings watched the play for their

one-penny admission.

The Stage- Major playing area jutted into the Pit,

creating a sense of intimacy with the audience.

Hangings curtained off space beneath.

Main entrance- Here the doorkeeper greeted

playgoers and collected one penny from everyone.

Parts of the Globe cont.

Lord’s Rooms- private galleries; six pennies let a viewer sit here, or sometimes even on the stage itself.

Middle Gallery- called “two-penny rooms” because the seats here were higher priced.

Inner Stage- A recessed playing area often curtained off, then opened for appropriate scenes.

Parts of the Globe Theatre cont.

Flag- a flag hoisted above the theatre meant a show would be performed that day. White-comedy, Black-tragedy, Red-history

Stage Doors- doors opening into the Tiring-House.

Hut- a storage area that also held a wench system for lowering enthroned gods or other characters to the stage.


The Heavens- so identified by being painted

with the zodiac signs.

Gallery- located above the stage house for

musicians or spectators. An auxiliary stage

for special scenes.

Dressing Rooms- rooms where actors were

“attired” and awaited their cues.


Tiring-House- The important backstage area

which provided space for storage and business

offices.

Stairs- Ascending to the first level, theatre goers

reached the galleries by wooden staircases

enclosed by stairwells.

Trap Door- Leading down to the Hell area where

equipment included the winch elevator that raised

and lowered actors or properties.


Hell- The area under the stage, used for

ghostly comings and goings or for more

mundane storage of properties.


Most scholars agree that Shakespeare wrote The

Tragedy of Julius Caesar in 1599.

The historical play is based upon the assassination

of Julius Caesar by his close friends and

confidants.

Shakespeare gained much of his knowledge about

Caesar and Roman life from Plutarch’s The Lives

of the Noble Grecians and Romans.


During Caesar’s time, Rome was constantly

at war.

The ruling power of Rome was in the hands

of its generals.

These generals would contract “private

armies” and subdue other countries that

were weaker than Rome.


After these “private armies” conquered a new

area, a Roman governor was sent there to watch

over the new land.

In many cases, the governor exacted cruel taxes on

the conquered people.

Sometimes the generals themselves turned on one

another, because they were strong men battling for

power. This treachery is exactly what happened in

Julius Caesar.

Julius Caesar


cont. Julius Caesar was born in 100 B.C. in Rome.

Julius Caesar rises to power through the use of his

oratory skill.

He was always a member of the democratic or

popular party.

He married Cornelia, the wealthy daughter of

Lucius Cornelius Cinna.

Caesar’s uncle arranged the marriage.


cont. When Caesar was given orders by Sulla (general and dictator at the time) to divorce Cornelia, he fled Rome in 81 B.C. for fear of his life because he refused to obey Sulla.

After Sulla’s death, Caesar returned to Rome and began to climb his way through the political arena.

Caesar soon began to back Pompey, the head of the popular party.

Caesar helped him gain both military and political advantages.


cont. Caesar and Pompey agreed that one would leave to fight for the good of Rome every three years, and then return to Rome so that the other person could leave and have his turn at conquest.

During this time Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus form the First Triumvirate, which means “three men” or “rule by three.”

They took over the Senate and the rulings of Rome for a while. The idea was that Caesar had the backing of the Legions (army).


cont. Pompey had the political power, and

Crassus had the financial backing.

Pompey was even married to Caesar’s

daughter Julia at this time.

The First Triumvirate would not last long

due to the jealousy that erupted between

Caesar and Pompey.


cont. Pompey returned early from his sieges and

told Caesar that it was his turn to leave

again. While Caesar is gone, Pompey uses

this opportunity to rally people behind him

by claiming that Caesar has become too

powerful and is only interested in

benefitting himself and not the Roman

Empire.


cont. By making these allegations, Pompey declares a war with Caesar.

The problem is that Caesar had the backings of the Legions, and Pompey only had the backing of the Senate.

While Caesar is conquering new territory for Rome, he gets word of Pompey’s plan. Caesar decides to quit his campaigns and return to Rome to face Pompey and the charges against him.


cont. When Caesar returns to Italy, Pompey warns him that if he crosses the Rubicon River, he is declaring a civil war on Rome.

Caesar responds with Alea Iacta Est, which translates to “the die is cast.”


cont. Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon is a symbolic

acceptance of Pompey’s challenge.

During this time the other member of the First

Triumvirate, Crassus, takes his money and

flees.

Caesar easily makes his way into Rome and

forces Pompey to flee.

Caesar was now in total control of Rome.


cont. During this time Caesar proclaims himself Senator for Life.

Caesar eventually tries to go after Pompey, who fled to Egypt, but he never catches him.

Servants of Cleopatra later kill Pompey while he is in Egypt, and his sons try to avenge the death of their father by declaring war on Caesar.

Shakespeare’s play begins after Caesar defeats Pompey’s sons.


cont. Contrary to popular belief, Caesar was not an

actual Emperor of Rome. In fact, Rome had no

actual emperors until about twenty years after

Caesar’s death.

While Caesar was living, Rome was a Republic

ruled by a Senate.

The name “Caesar” eventually became not a

name, but a word meaning “ruler” or “chief” in

Latin.


cont. The word “Caesar” evolved into different

languages such as German which took the name

and turned it into Kaiser. The Russian word Czar

as well traces its roots back to “Caesar.”

The term “caesarian sections,” or “C-sections” can

trace its origins back to Julius Caesar because the

popular belief was that Caesar did have not a

natural childbirth, but instead was “cut from the

womb.”

Documents

The Tragedy of Julius Caesarkealer.weebly.com/uploads/3/8/1/1/38110125/shakespearep...The Tragedy of Julius Caesar cont. When Caesar was given orders by Sulla (general and dictator